Public to receive more info about Welsh tidal test zone this month

March 13 (Renewables Now) - Not-for-profit company Mentor Mon will hold an event on March 19 to inform local communities and businesses about its plan to create a tidal stream energy development zone off the Welsh island of Anglesey.

The so-called Morlais project is planned as a marine energy hub where equipment developers will be able to conduct test and demonstration activities. Mentor Mon says that Morlais has the potential to accommodate the capacity to generate up to 240 MW.

Services that could be provided there include permitting and consenting, environmental and geotechnical monitoring, maritime operations consultancy, as well as fabrication and final assembly, among other.

All of this will be conducted within the West Anglesey Demonstration zone for which Morlais secured a 45-year lease from the Crown Estate. It is a 35-sq-km (376.7 million sq ft) area of seabed off the west coast of Holy Island.

The first stage of the project, aimed at obtaining consent for the proposals, will receive backing from the Welsh government and the European Regional Development Fund.